Do You Ever Worry About Getting Dementia?

Dementia is a symptom found in many diseases of the brain.

Memory loss is the most common feature of dementia, particularly the struggle to remember recent events.

Other symptoms can include changes to behaviour, mood and personality, becoming lost in familiar places or being unable to find the right word in a conversation.

It can reach the point where people don't know they need to eat or drink.

Alzheimer's disease is by far the most common of the diseases that cause dementia.

*****

If you can, watch the movie “ The Father” starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman.

Warning: Extremely sad, but oh so very real. Have a box of tissues handy!
 
To be Honest Never, am always keeping my mind busy, hours on the PC helping solve problems for folks on Forums, also on hand to help at retirement villages for those with Internet and PC problems, Setting up their smart TVs/Modems, etc. Not enough time in the day! Aventure before Dementia I say 😇
 

There's a cheat sheet kind of way of possibly determining Alzheimers. Normal aging is not remembering where you put your pen, Alzheimers is not remember what a pen is for. I'm not sure if the disease is in your cards, there's not a whole lot you can do about it.
 
hollydolly said:

Signs of Dementia​

Forgetfulness that is related to dementia is very different from “normal” forgetfulness and can be characterized by the following symptoms:

  1. Difficulty with simple tasks. If you or a loved one has a hard time remembering to pay bills, pick up spouses or children or carry out normal hygiene procedures like brushing teeth and bathing, it’s likely that this forgetfulness is a sign of dementia. This is also true for people who lose weight due to forgetting
  2. Inability to remember previous memory loss episodes. Forgetting the name of the street you live on and then remembering that you’ve forgotten is one thing. Forgetting previous incidents where memory loss has been a problem, however, is an entirely different situation. If you notice that a friend or loved one is having difficulty remembering times when memory loss has been a problem, it’s likely that this is a sign of dementia.
  3. Difficulty in familiar settings. While it’s normal to get lost in new places, it’s not normal to get lost on your way home. If you notice that a friend or loved one is forgetting how to get home or to the store or cannot remember which room is the bedroom or which car belongs to him or her, these are signs of dementia.
  4. Frequently forgetting words. While it’s normal to grapple for the right word, it’s not normal to forget words altogether. If you notice that a friend or loved one cannot remember simple words, slurs words or forgets important information like a loved one’s name or birthday, it’s time to seek help. This is also true if a loved one garbles information, repeats the same words or phrases multiple times in a conversation or tells the same story over and over.
  5. Poor judgment. If forgetfulness has reached the level where the individual is making forgetful judgments that place health or safety at risk, like going out in the winter without a jacket or leaving the stove or gas on at home, there’s a high possibility that you’re dealing with dementia-like symptoms.
  6. Difficulty making decisions. If a person you love is having a hard time making simple decisions like what to eat or where to go or if they become frustrated over simple issues, it’s likely that this is dementia-related forgetfulness. Additionally, if a person you love seems to have “Forgotten” how to act in social situations or acts out in dangerous or inappropriate ways, it’s likely that these are signs of dementia.
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Thanks @hollydolly your lists are very helpful.

However I have to confess to being occasionally guilty of 4, 5, and 6. And I have been most of my life, nothing new.
hollydolly said:
people who gain weight because they eat many meals and forget about previous ones
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Yeah, that one too...
 
Thankfully it doesn’t run in my family. It’s a horrible disease. What does run in my family is cancer, strokes and Parkinson’s. I only worry about the last two.
 
Muskrat said:
I do think about it. I am taking daily allergy pills. Without them I suffer from debilitating migraine headaches. Research shows daily allergy medication usage increases your odds of dementia. Rock and a hard place
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I wouldn't worry at all. All sorts of things are said but have no real basis and are not facts. Just look after general health, we can never know what is in store for us. Most worries are unfounded.

Migraine is just awful, I hope you can identify what food or triggers cause it for you and that you feel better. I have to exclude certain foods and caffeine is a trigger so I drink decaff.
 
After watching both my parents and my wife's parents go through old age and eventually die, I have learned one lesson. Don't worry about things you have no control over. It is a waste of time, and I know that worry of any kind is not healthy. We try to live a healthy lifestyle, eat properly, and see out doctor as required. Beyond that life goes on...focus on enjoying it, not worrying about when or how it may end!
 
PeppermintPatty said:
Does getting Dementia worry you?
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Oh sure, wouldn't want it for either myself or my wife. I try to limit sugar intake, which is linked to Dementia, exercise daily and try to encourage my wife to get more exercise, which helps decrease cognitive decline.
Sleep, particularly good sleep is a big factor in staving off Dementia. The Deep Sleep portion of a nightly sleep is very important for brain health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/are-toxins-flushed-out-of-the-brain-during-sleep
 
Yes. And I'm alone too. I'd never want to be in a nursing home unable to remember from one minute (or less) to the next but still being physically alive.

The other day I couldn't find a clothing item and I thought, what did I do with it? I remember taking it out of the drawer. I thought I had done something I didn't remember. Found it last evening. It fell between the bed and the ottoman. My mind may be OK, for now.
 
Also adding family history. My mother didn't get dementia, she was almost 90. And I don't believe any of her siblings did. Her mother died in the bombings of Dresden and I don't know what killed her father. I think he died in the early 60's and I don't know at what age.

The bio dad's side of the family, I don't know. He died of some kind of cancer in his earlier 80s.
 
I’m very concerned about my cognitive health declining. Lately I’m going through so many DUH moments that’s a bit concerning but it’s not a consistent thing.

Would anyone consider moderating a mental health section?
 
PeppermintPatty said:
I’m very concerned about my cognitive health declining. Lately I’m going through so many DUH moments that’s a bit concerning but it’s not a consistent thing.

Would anyone consider moderating a mental health section?
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If Matrix approves your Mental Health forum section request perhaps you could moderate it as well. I moderate the Meaningful Memes section of the forum that I requested, there's really not much to do, the moderator powers just give you means to organize the section better. I don't touch any posts there, I don't see that as my place.
 
Nathan said:
If Matrix approves your Mental Health forum section request perhaps you could moderate it as well. I moderate the "meaningful Memes" section of the forum that I requested, there's really not much to do, the moderator powers just give you means to organize the section better. I don't touch any posts there, I don't see that as my place.
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Well yes. Matrix did approve the extra forum and did ask that I moderate it but I was hoping someone else might volunteer. If not then the idea is closed.
 
I'm more concerned about keeping my senses, eyesight, and my physical mobility.
I see no reason to be concerned with dementia since I never use any drugs and don't go to doctors.
 
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Myrtle wrote in post 19: "I have heard it said that if you forget exactly where you left your car in the big parking lot, don't worry. If you forget that you brought your car with you, it's time for intervention."

A few years ago, a neighbour and I would go shopping. One day, she phoned about a ride to get her car - she walked home (about 1 mile from store to home). We drove up/down about 6 streets before she recognized her car. Unknown to me at the time, this was the beginning stages of her dementia. Sadly she passed away this month at age 75.
 
this thread is just depressing me more and more! yes I know I don't need to be here I thought it would be more enlivening!
 
davey said:
this thread is just depressing me more and more! yes I know I don't need to be here I thought it would be more enlivening!
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We didn’t open the mental health forum since there’s nobody to manage and moderate it.
Dementia isn’t normally an enlivening or exciting topic to discuss.

Perhaps later on we can add solutions in helping dementia like reading books, doing crossword puzzles, playing scrabble along with regular exercise and eating the right types of food which aren’t inflammatory.
 
davey said:
this thread is just depressing me more and more! yes I know I don't need to be here I thought it would be more enlivening!
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Everything isn't a joke. There are some topics that people are seriously concerned about and would like to discuss in a serious and mature manner. Mental health is not a joke. And fear of dementia is not "enlivening." There are however, a few jokes threads in the forum that may be enjoyed.
 
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Just keep repeating the "Serenity Prayer. "God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the energy and courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

We MUST accept everything that happens to us no matter if it's pain, impairment or death.

I play chess at Chess.com every day to keep my mind active, I play Civilization VI at Steam.com every day, I walk TWO walks of 2,000 steps every day, I drink 8 glasses of juice, I take 3,000 mg of Tylenol and 200 mg of Gabapentin to relieve my pain. If our minds go under, just play games and amuse yourself with artificial dreams and you will make it until you will be able to accept death.

Father Death (Jesus Christ) takes us ALL in the end and we cease to exist ending all problems.
 

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